Grinding and aligning method and machine



Dec. 22, 1942. fMc uADE GRINDING AND ALIGNING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan.

2 She ecsSheet l v five/ 2502": faerzJMcQuade am am r 0m GRINDING AND ALIGNING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Jan. 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v q f: V H r I M J '2/4 w 9 J4 Y 151 #Wdm mm Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNE'E'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRINDING AND ALIGNING METHOD AND MACHINE Robert J. McQuade, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 2, 1941, Serial No. 372,785

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a grinding and aligning method and machine, and more particularly to an improved grinding and aligning method and machine for grinding and aligning the bearing surfaces of the jaws of locomotive driving box frames and the like, also the shoe and wedge faces.

The surfaces of the jaws in which the driving boxes of locomotives slide up and down become pounded and worn by longitudinal as well as transverse impact. These surfaces are subject not only to considerable friction, but also to impact loads, which momentarily, at least, may reach high stress values. As a result, these surfaces must be refaced or ground and aligned from time to time-usua1ly when the locomotive is overhauled in the shops, which-is commonly done about every 100,000 miles and sometimes up to approximately 200,000 miles of running.

This matter of refacing or grinding and accurately aligning these bearing surfaces has presented a diflicult practical problem. Heretofore it has been done by setting the grinding member and grinding the bearing surface at one side of the frame, and then independently setting the grinding member and. grinding the bearing surface at the opposite side of the frame. This has involved considerable difficulty in securing the desired alignment of these surfaces. It is of great importance to have these surfaces aligned as accurately as possible, particularly inlocomotives provided with roller bearings. If the surfaces are not accurately aligned, excessive wear takes place on the bearing surfaces of the driving box frames, and cracking of the bearings may result.

At least one bearing manufacturer requires that its engineers supervise the grinding of these bearing surfaces so as to insure against excessive objectionable loads or stress values on its bearings. Otherwise it will not guarantee the bearings that it supplies. This requires the presence of the bearing companys engineers as well as the railroad companys engineers, and the cost of maintenance is increased. And even as to the speciallyequipped engineers of the bearing company, the matter of grinding and accurately aligning these bearing surfaces has been difficult and expensive and not as satisfactory as desired.

According to my present invention,'I provide an improved method and machine for grinding and aligning the bearing surfaces of the jaws of a locomotive driving box frame, and the shoe and wedge faces, which method and machine make it possible togrind and align these bearing surfaces accurately .and expeditiously and without requiring the "presence of special engineers; also, without separately setting'the grinding member for the two surfaces to be ground .and aligned, and without the difiiculty and cost of endeavoring to secure accurate alignment of these surfaces by prior methods.

The chief advantages of my invention are accomplished by setting thegrinding member to grind the proper amount the two surfaces which are to be ground and aligned, grinding one of these surfaces with this setting of the grinding member, and then, while maintaining the same setting of the grinding member, moving said member to position to grind the other surface, and grinding said other surface with this same setting of the grinding member accurately to align these surfaces.

More specifically, I accomplish the advantages set forth by supporting the grinding member between the sides of the driving box frame for swinging movement, setting the grinding member to grind the proper amount the two bearing surfaces which are to be ground and aligned at opposite sides of the frame, grinding one of these surfaces with this setting of the grinding member, and then, while maintaining this same setting of the grinding member, swinging said member to position to grind the surface at the opposite side of the frame, and grinding this latter surface with this same setting of the grinding member accurately to align said, surfaces.

In the still more limited aspects of the invention, the swinging movement of the grinding member, as above set forth, is about an axis extending longitudinally between the sides of the frame, and the grinding member also has swinging movement about a transverse axis at right angles to the first mentioned axis and between the front and rear jaws of the frame so that upon completing the operation of grinding and aligning one pair of bearing surfaces, the grinding member may be swung about its transverse axis to position for grinding and aligning the other pair of bearing surfaces.

The grinding and aligning machine of my present invention is of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, is self-contained, and is adapted to be handled and operated conveniently and, effectively for the purposes set forth. While I have pointed out that the invention is particularly useful in connection with grinding and aligning the bearing surfaces of the jaws of locomotive driving box frames, and the shoe and wedge faces, it is to be understood that, in

its broader aspects, the invention is not limited to this particular use, but may be employed for grinding and aligning other surfaces as suitable and desired.

While the particular structural features by which I provide a machine of the character set forth are important features within the more specific aspects of the invention, it is to be understood that the precise features shown and described may be varied within the broader aspects of the invention.

In order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of practicing the method and constructing and operating a machine in accordance with the present invention, I will now describe in connection with the accompanying drawings one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a locomotive driving box frame showing an embodiment of the present invention in connection therewith, with the grinding member positioned to grind the bearing surfaces on the rear aws;

Figure 2 is a section through the jaws of the driving box frame, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and looking down on the grinding and aligning machine which is in elevation, and in position to grind the bearing surfaces on the front jaws;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the driving box frame, taken on the line 33 of Figure 2, with the grinding and aligning machine in front elevation;

Figure 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the locomotive driving box frame, designated generally at H], may be of any existing well-known or other form. The frame In has a pair of front jaws l I, H, one at each side of the frame, and a pair of rear jaws l2, I2, one also at each side of the frame and spaced rearwardly from the front jaws. The driving boxes (not shown) are mounted to slide up and down between the front and rear jaws, as well understood in the art, along bearing surfaces on the front jaws as indicated at I 3, and tapered guides or adjusting wedges (not shown) placed against inclined bearing surfaces on the rear jaws, as indicated at l4. One of the usual pedestal braces is indicated at I5 in Figure 1.

The grinding and aligning machine comprises a bar 29 laid transversely across the opposite pedestal brace members H5 in position between the bearing surfaces l3 and M. The bar 20 is disposed at right angles to the sides of the frame I0 and parallel with the surfaces l3 and I4 to be ground and aligned. The opposite ends of the bar 26 are clamped or secured to the respective brace members l5, for example, by U bolts 2|.

Mounted on the bar 26 in upright position and in transversely spaced relation between the sides of the frame it are a pair of standards or pedestals 22. The upper ends of these standards 22 have transversely aligned split clamp heads 23 in which a tubular shaft 24 ismounted with its axis disposed at right angles to the sides of the frame I0. The split mounting portions 25 of the drum 26 are mounted on the shaft 24 for turning movement thereon, so that the drum 26 may be swung about the axis of the shaft 24 for purposes which will presently appear. Bolts 21 are adapted for clamping the mounting portions fixedly in the desired angular position upon the shaft 24. If desired, swinging movement of the drum 26 about the axis of the shaft 24 may be accomplished by clamping the portions 25 fixedly to the shaft and loosening the bolts 28 to permit turning movement of the shaft 24 in the heads 23 at the upper ends of the standards 22.

The axis of the cylindrical outer surface 30 of the drum 26 is set accurately at right angles to the axis of the shaft 24 so that when the grinding member is swung from set grinding position at a bearing surface at one side of the frame 10 to position at the opposite side of the frame and operated to grind the bearing surface at the latter side, said bearing surface not only will be accurately aligned with the opposite bearing surface, but it and the opposite bearing surface will be disposed accurately at right angles to the sides of the frame I 0.

The grinding tool, indicated at 32, may be an emery grinding wheel as shown, or any other well-known or existing grinding tool. It is supported preferably adjustably at the outer end of an extensible arm indicated generally at 33. The arm 33 comprises an outer tubular portion 34 and an inner tubular or other suitable portion 35 which telescopes into the arm portion 34 and is adapted to be extended from and retracted into said arm portion 34. The tubular part 34 of the arm 33 has a ring-like portion or annulus 36 formed integral therewith. 'This annulus 36 fits telescopically over a sleeve 31 and is clamped fixedly and, preferably, adjustablyat 38 to the sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 rotates freely upon the outer cylindrical surface 30 of the drum 26, and is held against endwise displacement by the drum head 39 removably secured in place by a bolt 40.

The grinding member 32 is driven by an electric motor 42 or other suitable driving means which, with the grinding member 32, is supported on the outer end of the arm part 35, preferably for adjustment toward and away from the surfaces to be ground and aligned. This latter adjustment may be accomplished by any existing or well known means, such, for example, as the tool adjustment shown in the drawings as comprising a screw 43 adapted to be turned by a finger piece 44 to slide the motor 42 and grinding member 32 toward and away from the surface IS. The motor 42 is shown as having a bracket 45 having sliding dovetail engagement in the member 46 at the outer end of the arm part 35.

An arm 56 extends from the annulus 36 in a direction opposite the direction of extension of the arm 33, and is provided with a counterweight 52 for counterbalancing the weight of the motor 42, grinding member 32, and other parts on the arm 33. The lower ends of the are shown as grooved at 53 for movement on the bar 26, and bolts 54 are provided for clamping or securing the standards 22. in place, preferably adjustably, on the bar 20.

Extension and retraction of the arm part 35 is accomplished by providing said arm part 35 with a rack which is fixed thereon and extends through a longitudinal slot 62 in the arm part 34 as shown in Figure 5. A bracket 63, fixed on the arm part 34, carries a shaft 64 on which is fixed a pinion 65 which meshes with the rack 60.

A hand wheel 68 on the shaft 64 is adapted to be grasped with the hand and turned to turn the pinion 65 which-by its engagement with the rack 69, racks the arm part 35 and the grinding memberv 32 and other parts carried thereby into the desired extended and retracted positions. The rack, by its engagement through the slot 62 in the arm part 34, performs the added function of splining the arm part 35 against turning movement relative to the arm part 34 about the common axis of the tubes forming these parts.

In grinding and aligning, for example, the rear pair of inclined bearing surfaces M, the machine is set up on the pedestal braces I as shown and described, with the axis of the shaft 24 accurately at right angles to the sides of the frame l0 and accurately parallel to the surfaces to be ground. The drum 26 is swung about the axis of the shaft 24 to bring the grinding surface of the grinding member 32 to the desired inclination .as shown in Figure 1, and the annulus 3G is moved inwardly or outwardly along the sleeve 31 in an axial direction, roughly to adjust the grinding member to the desired position, the annulus 36 being then clamped in place by the means indicated at 38. The grinding member 32 is set by the adjusting means at 44 to grind the proper amount the two surfaces it which are to be ground .and aligned. Then, after grinding one of the surfaces It with this setting of the grinding member 32 and while maintaining the same setting of the grinding member, the extensible arm 33 is swung about the axis of the drum 30 to position the grinding member 32 in its substantially diametrically opposite position and adjacent the opposite bearing surface M which is then ground with this same setting of the grinding member. As a result, very accurate alignment of the two bearing surfaces M is assured.

Then, in order to grind the other pair of hearing surfacesi. e., the bearing surfaces I3 of the front jaws ll-the drum 26 is swung about the axis of the shaft 24 to its substantially diametrically opposite position, thereby positioning the grinding member for grinding one of the bearing surfaces i3. These bearing surfaces l3 being vertical and not inclined, the axis of the drum 26 is positioned accurately at right angles to these surfaces it. Then after setting the grinding member to grind the two surfaces [3 the proper amount, this member is operated to grind one of the surfaces, whereupon the arm 33 is swung about the axis of the drum 26 to its diametrically opposite position to grind the other bearing surface 13 with the same setting of the grinding member, accurately to align these front surfaces It is to be understood that in moving the grinding member 32 up and down in grinding the respective bearing surfaces, the arm part 35 may be extended and retracted by turning the hand wheel 68 to allow for the different distances between different portions ofthe bearing surfaces and the axis of the drum 25.

As previously indicated, the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In a machine for grinding and aligning bearing surfaces, a supporting drum, means supporting said drum on an axis for turning movement about said axis to substantially opposite positions and to. positionfor grinding inclined surfaces, an arm comprising a pair of telescoping tubular arm parts one having an annulus rotatable upon said drum about an axis at substantially right angles to the first mentioned axis of turning movement of the drum and adjustable by axial sliding movement on said drum, a grinding member on the other arm part, and means on said other arm part for adjusting said grinding member to position to grind said surfaces the desired amount.

2. In a machine for grinding and aligning bearing surfaces, a supporting drum, means supporting said drum for turning movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of said drum and to substantially opposite positions and to position for grinding inclined surfaces, an arm comprising a pair of telescoping tubular arm parts one having an annulus rotatable upon said drum and adjustable by axial sliding movement on said drum, a grinding member on the other arm part, means for counterbalancing said arm and the grinding member thereon, means on said other arm part for adjusting said grinding member to position to grind said surfaces the desired amount, the tubular arm part with the annulus having a longitudinal slot, a rack on the other tubular arm part extending through said slot, and a pinion carried by said first arm part and meshing with said rack for racking said second arm part and the grinding member carried thereby to extended and retracted positions.

3. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws of a locomotive driving box frame, in combination, a first support, an extensible and retractable grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding operation, a grinding member on said arm, positively acting means for extending and retracting said arm to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said'swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the grinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding member on said first support to permit swinging the grinding member to grinding positions adjacent the front and rear jaws and to position for grinding the inclined bearing surface for an adjusting wedge or tapered guide on one aw.

4. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws of alocomotive driving box frame, in combination, a, first support, a grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding operation, said grinding arm comprising a pair of arm parts one extensible and retractable with respect to the other, a grinding member on said extensible and retractable arm part, positively acting means having a part thereof on one arm part and a coacting part on the other arm part for extending and retracting the extensible arm part to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the grinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding arm on said first support to permit swinging the grinding member to grinding positions adjacent the front and rear jaws and to position for grinding the inclined bearing surface for an adjusting wedge or tapered guide on one jaw.

5. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws of a locomotive driving box frame, in combination, a first support, a grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding operation, said grinding arm comprising a pair of arm parts one extensible and retractable with respect to the other, a grinding member on said extensible and retractable arm part, positively acting means comprising a rack on one arm part positioned radially with respect'to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and a coacting pinion on the other arm part, means for turning said pinion to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the grinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding arm on said first support to permit swinging the grinding member to grinding positions adjacent the front and rear jaws and to position for grinding the inclined bearing surface for an adjusting wedge or tapered guide on one jaw.

6. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear, transversely spaced, and substantially parallel bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws at opposite sides of a locomotive driving box frame, in combination, a first support, an extensible and retractable grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding of said surfaces and from position for grinding a surface at one side of the frame to position for grinding a surface at the opposite side of the frame, a grinding member on said arm, positively acting means for extending and retracting said arm to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the grinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding arm on said first support. '7. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear, transversely spaced, and

substantially parallel bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws at opposite sides of a locomotive driving box frame, in combination, a first support, a grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding of said surfaces and from position for grinding a surface at one side of the frame to position for grinding a surface at the opposite side of the frame, said grinding arm comprising a pair of arm parts one extensible and retractable with respect to the other, a grindillg member on said extensible and retractable arm part, positively acting means having a part there-' of on one arm part and a coacting part on the other arm part for extendin and retracting the extensible arm part to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the grinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding arm on said first support.

8. In a machine for grinding and aligning the generally rectilinear, transversely spaced and substantially parallel bearing surfaces and the shoe and wedge faces on the front and rear jaws at opposite sides of a locomotive driving box frame, in combination, a first support, a'grinding arm mounted to swing on said support during the grinding of said surfaces from position for grinding a surface at one side of the frame to position for grinding a surface at the opposite side of the frame, said grinding arm comprising a pair of arm parts one extensible and retractable with respect to the other, a grinding member on said extensible and retractable arm part, positively acting means comprising a rack on one arm part positioned radially with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and a coacting pinion on the other arm part, means for turning said pinion to move the grinding member inwardly and outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the axis of swinging movement of the arm on said support and simultaneously with said swinging movement of said arm to cover the rectilinear extents of said surfaces in the rinding operations, and a second support supporting said first support for swinging movement about an axis at right angles to the axis of swinging movement of said grinding arm on said first support.

ROBERT J. MCQUADE. 

